Eurosaf European Sailing Cup, a new event for Olympic Classes, is to commence in 2013.

Eurosaf, in association with the organisers of Garda Olympic Week, Italy; Delta Lloyd Regatta, The Netherlands; Sail for Gold, United Kingdom; Kieler Woche, Germany and Semaine Olympique Française, France, have signed a joint Statement of Intent and agreed the Rules and Regulations to create the new series to be known as the Eurosaf European Sailing Cup.

The five regattas will combine to create this new series, which will commence in May 2013 with the event on Lake Garda and continue with the Delta Lloyd Regatta, also in May, Sail for Gold in early June and Kieler Woche in its normal mid-June timeslot. La Rochelle will conclude the series in the autumn, by holding the Semaine Olympique Française in La Rochelle. These are all top class and established events for Olympic sailors, and the new series will ensure an extra element of competition is added to the European sailing season.

The Eurosaf European Sailing Cup will be open to all sailors from around the world and is not restricted to European sailors. It is designed to complement the ISAF Sailing World Cup events in Europe and to develop a strong, competitive series, with top class racing for all Olympic and aspiring Olympic sailors. The series has been harmonised with the ISAF Sailing World Cup events in Europe, in order that sailors visiting from other continents can compete in a European summer of racing, in a series of well run and established regattas, enjoying top class competition, with a minimum amount of travelling in between events.

Following the signing of the Statement of Intent, Eurosaf, along with the event organisers, are now working on the fine details of the series to determine matters such as the scoring system and to define the marketing and media strategy. The complete events schedule will be published shortly.

Arjen Rahusen, Chairman of the Delta Lloyd Regatta, is really happy with the new circuit: 'We must do everything we can to increase the profile our sport' he said. 'I think that the Eurosaf European Sailing Cup (ESC) will be an excellent platform to achieve this. The aim is to organise these events at a very high level, so that every sailor knows exactly what to expect when they arrive at an ESC event. Furthermore, we need to introduce and promote new formats of sailing, media presentation and live tracking systems. The ESC must become a series that you simply cannot afford to miss!'

Peter Ramcke from the Kieler Woche organising committee said: 'Kieler Woche is now part of the new Eurosaf European Sailing Cup along with four other major sailing events. The ESC is the next step into the future, to keep the sport of sailing at the top level in Europe, and this combines perfectly with the future strategy for Kieler Woche, as one of the largest sailing regattas in the world.'

Dan Ibsen, from Denmark, a Vice-President of Eurosaf and Chairman of the Eurosaf European Sailing Cup Steering Committee, said: 'We in Eurosaf are delighted to have reached an agreement with the five event organisers to create this new series. It is excellent news for Olympic sailing in Europe and will provide sailors with an extra level of competition of a very high standard.'